Campaigning for brother, Priyanka invokes ‘visionary father’ Rajiv

Priyanka said her father Rajiv died for the country and told the crowd that how she cried when she had shifted her focus from Amethi to Rae Bareli in 2004.

In Amethi, while campaigning for his brother Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tried to strike an emotional chord with the public by comparing her brother to her “visionary father” Rajiv Gandhi. Priyanka also chalked out development schemes announced by her brother and said: “Those who have criticised Rajiv Gandhi are today criticising Rahul because like my father, even Rahul has a long-term vision.”

She said her father Rajiv died for the country and told the crowd that how she cried when she had shifted her focus from Amethi to Rae Bareli in 2004.

“I used to come here with my father earlier. In 2004, when I shifted my focus to Rae Bareli, I have made brothers, sisters and friends here. In 2004, while campaigning for my mother, I cried, when I was passing Amethi on my way to Rae Bareli. No outsider will be able to understand this emotion,” she said.

Cautioning the public about “outsiders”, she said: “There are leaders, who are outsiders and have come here to contest. They say there are no roads, no electricity because they have little understanding of the region and do not know the love we share with you,” in an apparent jibe at BJP’s Smriti Irani.

Actor-turned politician Smriti Irani had unsuccessfully contested the 2004 elections from Chandni Chowk and has been pitted against Rahul Gandhi from Amethi. Priyanka said she was sure the public will be able to distinguish between “drama and reality” this elections.

Priyanka held 13 public meetings in various villages of Jagdishpur and also held “foot-march” in Musafirkhana and gave surprise visit to AAP workers at Banbharia village, shook hands and even interacted with them.